Air conditioner register

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner register for adjusting the direction of air is provided. The register includes a retainer, which defines an air duct therein, and a barrel, which is pivotally supported in the retainer. The retainer includes a rectangular air outlet of the duct. The barrel includes two or more long fins extending in the direction of long sides of the outlet. The long fins that are located closest to the long sides of the outlet, among the long fins located in the outlet when the barrel is in a neutral state, form a pair of main long fins. Walls of the retainer including the long sides of the outlet include bulging portions. When the barrel is tilted to a maximum tilt position of its movable range, one of the bulging portions is located close to the downstream end of the main long fin that leads in the tilt motion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air conditioner register thatadjusts the direction of air-conditioning air discharged from an airconditioner into a room.

Air vents for air-conditioning air such as warm air and cool air sentfrom an air conditioner are mounted in an instrument panel of a vehicle.The air vents are each provided with an air conditioner register. Theair conditioner register includes a tubular retainer and fins. Theretainer has an air duct defined therein, and a square air outlet formedat the downstream end of the air duct. The fins are pivotally mounted inthe retainer. The air conditioner register changes the direction of theair-conditioning air discharged from the air outlet by adjusting thedirection of the fins.

From the aspect of an aesthetic appearance and an installation space,low-profile air conditioner registers with a rectangular air outlet asdisclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-306365 andJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-188219 have been proposed.In the air conditioner register, among four walls surrounding the airduct of the retainer, a pair of walls including a pair of short sides ofthe air outlet forms first walls, and a pair of walls including a pairof long sides forms second walls. The fins include long fins, whichextend along the long sides and are arranged along the short sides, andshort fins, which extend along the short sides and are arranged alongthe long sides. The long fins are pivotally supported by support shaftslocated on its opposite ends in the direction of the long sides. Theshort fins are pivotally supported by support shafts located on itsopposite sides in the direction of the short sides.

The state in which the long fins are arranged parallel to the secondwalls is referred to as a neutral state of the long fins, and the statein which the short fins are arranged parallel to the first walls isreferred to as a neutral state of the short fins. When the long fins andthe short fins are arranged in the neutral states, the air-conditioningair from the air conditioner flows along the long fins and the shortfins, and is discharged straight from the air outlet of the retainertoward occupants. Also, when at least either the long fins or the shortfins are tilted from the neutral state, the air-conditioning air isdischarged from the air outlet of the retainer in the direction of thetilted fins.

In the above-mentioned low-profile air conditioner register, the numberof the long fins, which are arranged along the short sides, is less thanthe number of the short fins, which are arranged along the long sides.This is to ensure the flow path of the air-conditioning air between theadjacent long fins. The number of the fins arranged along the shortsides is less than the number of the fins arranged along any sides of anair outlet of a common air conditioner register having a square airoutlet.

In a low-profile air conditioner register, if the number of the longfins arranged along the short sides of the air outlet is small, it isdifficult to accurately discharge the air-conditioning air from the airoutlet in a desired direction, that is, in the direction in which thelong fins are tilted. That is, if the number of the long fins is small,the directivity of the air-conditioning air discharged from the airoutlet is not sufficiently high.

In particular, when the long fins are tilted to a maximum tilt positionof a movable range, a gap is formed between the second wall and one ofthe long fins located in the air outlet that is closest to the longside, and air flows through the gap. The air flowing through the gapaffects the flow of the air-conditioning air that flows between theadjacent long fins and discharged from the air outlet, and reduces thedirectivity of the air-conditioning air.

An air conditioner register has also been proposed that includes anadditional mechanism for inhibiting reduction in the directivity. Inthis case, however, the number of components is increased, and it isdifficult to respond to requirements specific to the low-profile airconditioner register that preferably has small number of components toreduce the thickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an airconditioner register that improves directivity of air-conditioning airdischarged from an air outlet without increasing the number ofcomponents.

To achieve the foregoing objective, and in accordance with one aspect ofthe present invention, an air conditioner register for adjusting thedirection of air-conditioning air is provided. The air conditionerregister includes a tubular retainer and a barrel. The retainer includesan air duct for air-conditioning air defined therein by a pair of firstwalls facing each other and a pair of second walls facing each other.The retainer includes a rectangular air outlet at a downstream end ofthe air duct. The air outlet includes a pair of short sides facing eachother and a pair of long sides facing each other. Each of the firstwalls includes one of the short sides of the air outlet, and each of thesecond walls includes one of the long sides of the air outlet. Thebarrel includes two or more long fins extending in a direction of thelong sides in the retainer and arranged along the short sides separatefrom and parallel to each other. The barrel includes a pair of barrelsupport shafts extending in the direction of the long sides on bothsides of the barrel. The barrel is pivotally supported by the barrelsupport shafts at part of the first walls close to the air outlet. Whenthe barrel is arranged in a barrel neutral state, in which the long finsare arranged parallel to the second walls, the long fins located closestto the long sides, among the long fins located in the air outlet, form apair of main long fins. Each of the second walls includes a bulgingportion, which bulges inward of the air outlet. When the barrel istilted to a maximum tilt position in a range of the tilt motion, one ofthe bulging portions is located close to the downstream end of a one ofthe main long fins that leads in the tilt motion.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description of the presentlypreferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a vehicleair conditioner register according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the air conditionerregister of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a state in which thebarrel is arranged in a barrel neutral state;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating the air conditionerregister of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the shortfins are arranged in the short fin neutral state;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the air conditionerregister of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a state in which thebarrel is tilted to the maximum downward tilt position of the movablerange; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the air conditionerregister of a comparative example in which the barrel is tilted to themaximum downward tilt position of the movable range.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle air conditioner register according to one embodiment of thepresent invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the front, rear, up, down, left, and rightare based on the advancing direction of a vehicle.

In a passenger compartment, an instrument panel (not shown) is locatedin front of a driver's seat and a front passenger seat. Low-profile airconditioner registers are installed at both ends and the center of theinstrument panel in the vehicle widthwise direction. The dimension ofthe air conditioner registers in the vertical direction is shorter (theheight is smaller) compared to the dimension in the vehicle widthwisedirection (left and right direction). Each of the air conditionerregisters adjusts the direction of air delivered from the airconditioner (not shown) and sent into the passenger compartment.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the air conditioner register according tothe present embodiment. The air conditioner register includes a retainer10, a barrel 30 having long fins, and a group of short fins. Thestructure of each component will now be described.

<Retainer 10>

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer 10 includes a flow path for anair-conditioning air A (hereinafter, referred to as an air duct 9)defined therein. The retainer 10 includes a main body 11 and a bezel 16formed of a plastic material. The main body 11 is formed of a tubeextending in the direction in which the air duct 9 extends, that is, inthe flow direction of the air-conditioning air A. In the followingdescription, “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the upstream anddownstream of the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A along theair duct 9. In this direction, “upstream” is close to the airconditioner, and “downstream” is separate from the air conditioner.Also, the upstream end refers to the end portion at the upstream part,and the downstream end refers to the end portion at the downstream part.

The main body 11 includes an upstream section 12, which is locatedupstream of the center portion of the air duct 9 in the flow directionof the air-conditioning air A, and a downstream section 13, which islocated downstream of the center portion. A laterally rectangularopening is formed at the upstream end of the upstream section 12. Theopening forms an inlet of the air-conditioning air A to the airconditioner register.

The cross-section orthogonal to the flow direction of the air duct 9 atthe downstream section 13 is greater than that at the upstream section12 in the vertical direction. The cross-section of a boundary portion 14between the upstream section 12 and the downstream section 13 graduallywidens in the vertical direction toward the downstream direction. Theside cross-section of the boundary portion 14 along the air duct 9defines an arch (see FIG. 2). Engaging holes 15 are formed at the upperand lower portions of the downstream end of the downstream section 13.

The bezel 16 includes a square loop-like mounting portion 17 and asquare frame 18. The frame 18 is integrally formed with the downstreamend of the mounting portion 17 and forms an outer surface of the airconditioner register. Engaging hooks 19 are formed at the upper andlower portions of the upstream end of the mounting portion 17. The bezel16 is arranged downstream of the main body 11. The bezel 16 is coupledto the main body 11 by inserting the mounting portion 17 in thedownstream section 13, and engaging the engaging hooks 19 of themounting portion 17 with the corresponding engaging holes 15 from theinside. Part of the opening at the mounting portion 17 of the bezel 16forms an air outlet 20 for the air-conditioning air A from the airconditioner register. In the present embodiment, part of the opening ofthe bezel 16 with the smallest opening area forms the air outlet 20.

Among four sides of the laterally rectangular air outlet 20, a pair ofsides extending in the vertical direction is referred to as “short sidesX”, and a pair of sides extending in the vehicle widthwise direction,that is, the left and right direction is referred to as “long sides Y”.

The air duct 9 is surrounded by four walls of the retainer 10. Among thefour walls, a pair of walls including the pair of short sides X of theair outlet 20 are referred to as first walls 21, and a pair of wallsincluding the pair of long sides Y are referred to as second walls 22.In the present embodiment, in which the air outlet 20 has a laterallyrectangular shape, the pair of walls opposing the vehicle widthwisedirection, that is, the left and right direction, are the first walls21, and the pair of walls opposing the vertical direction are the secondwalls 22.

Furthermore, the second walls 22 of the retainer 10 according to thepresent embodiment each include a bulging portion 23. Each bulgingportion 23 is integrally formed with the associated second wall 22 tobulge inward of the air outlet 20. More specifically, an upper bulgingportion 23 bulges downward, and a lower bulging portion 23 bulgesupward. When the barrel 30 is arranged in a later described barrelneutral state, the bulging ends of the bulging portions 23 in thebulging direction align with sub-long fins 32 in the flow direction ofthe air-conditioning air A at a position downstream of the sub-long fins32 (see FIG. 2). Also, when the barrel 30 is tilted to a maximum tiltposition of a movable range of the barrel 30, the bulging end of one ofthe bulging portions 23 is located close to the downstream end of aleading one of the main long fins 31. That is, when the barrel 30 istilted to the maximum tilt position, the bulging end of one of thebulging portions 23 is in close proximity to the main long fin 31 thathas the leading position during the movement to the maximum tiltposition (see FIG. 4).

<Barrel 30>

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the barrel 30 includes the long fins 31, 32,the number of which is greater than or equal to two (four in thisembodiment), and a pair of side walls 33. The long fins 31, 32 extend inthe retainer 10 in the direction of the long sides Y of the air outlet20, that is, the vehicle widthwise direction. The long fins 31, 32 arearranged separate from and parallel to each other along the short sidesX, that is, the vertical direction. The pair of side walls 33 isarranged on both sides of the long fins 31, 32 in the direction of thelong sides Y. The long fins 31, 32 and the side walls 33 are formed of aplastic material. The long fins 31, 32 are flat plates and extend in theflow direction of the air duct 9 by a predetermined width.

The side walls 33 extend at positions close to the first walls 21 of theretainer 10 in the direction of the short sides X, that is, the verticaldirection. The side walls 33 are formed integrally with the long fins31, 32. Each side wall 33 includes a barrel support shaft 34, whichprotrudes toward the adjacent first wall 21. That is, the barrel supportshafts 34 extend in the direction of the long sides Y. The barrel 30 ispivotally supported by the first walls 21 via the barrel support shafts34 at a position close to the air outlet 20 in the flow direction of theair duct 9.

In the direction of the short sides X (or the long sides Y) of the airoutlet 20, the portion closer to the center of the short sides X (or thelong sides Y) is referred to as an “inner portion”, and the portionseparate from the center is referred to as an “outer portion”.

The state of the barrel 30 when the long fins 31, 32 are arrangedparallel to the second walls 22 (see FIG. 2) is referred to as a “barrelneutral state”. Also, the state of the barrel 30 when the long fins 31,32 are tilted with respect to the second walls 22 (see FIG. 4) isreferred to as a “barrel tilt state”.

In the present embodiment, among the plurality of long fins 31, 32, themiddle two long fins in the direction of the short sides X are referredto as the “main long fins 31”, and two long fins located outward of themain long fins 31 in the direction of the short sides X are referred toas the “sub-long fins 32”. When the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrelneutral state, the downstream ends of the main long fins 31 are locatedat or in the vicinity of the air outlet 20. Also, the main long fins 31are closest to the long sides Y among the long fins 31 located in theair outlet 20. A bearing hole 35 is formed in the upstream end of eachof the main long fins 31.

The sub-long fins 32 are located at positions near the second walls 22(see FIG. 2). When the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutralstate, both sub-long fins 32 are located at positions outward of the airoutlet 20 in the retainer 10. Also, the outer surface of each sub-longfin 32 forms a curved surface that bulges toward the outside of the airoutlet 20. When the barrel 30 is in the barrel neutral state, theupstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located at positions near theupstream ends of the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the airduct 9. In contrast, the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 arelocated upstream of the downstream ends of the main long fins 31. Thatis, the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located upstream ofthe air outlet 20. Therefore, the sub-long fins 32 are shorter than themain long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9.

The distance between the main long fins 31 is denoted by D1, and thedistance between each main long fin 31 and the adjacent sub-long fin 32is denoted by D2. The barrel 30 is formed such that the distance D1 isgreater than the distance D2.

<Group of Short Fins>

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the group of short fins includes plasticshort fins 40 (seven in this embodiment). The short fins 40 extend inthe retainer 10 in the direction of the short sides X of the air outlet20. The short fins 40 are arranged separate from and parallel to eachother along the long sides Y. The short fins 40 are flat plates andextend in the flow direction of the air duct 9 by a predetermined lengthL1 (see FIG. 3). The short fins 40 are longer than the sub-long fins 32and the main long fins 31 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. Whenthe short fins 40 are arranged parallel to the first walls 21, one thirdor more part of the length L1 of the short fins 40 in the flow directionof the air duct 9 is arranged in the barrel 30. In the presentembodiment, the area between the downstream end of each short fin 40 anda position separate from the downstream end toward the upstream portionby one third or more of the length L1 is arranged in the barrel 30.

According to the above arrangement, the short fins 40 overlap the longfins 31, 32 along the air flow direction of the air duct 9. Thus, in theflow direction of the air duct 9, distance from the most upstream one ofthe upstream ends of the short fins 40 and the upstream ends of the longfins 31, 32, to the most downstream one of the downstream ends of theshort fins 40 and the downstream ends of the long fins 31, 32 is shorterthan it would be if the short fins 40 were not arranged in the barrel30.

The short fins 40 are formed as follows to fabricate a structure inwhich at least parts of the short fins 40 are arranged in the barrel 30as described above. The upstream section of each short fin 40 is formedof a base 41, and the downstream section is formed of three projections42, 43, which are separate from each other in the direction of the shortsides X and protrude downstream from the base 41. The projections 42, 43include two side projections 42, which are on opposite ends in thedirection of the short sides X, and a middle projection 43 arrangedbetween the side projections 42. Each of the side projections 42 isseparate from the middle projection 43 in the direction of the shortsides X by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the mainlong fins 31. A pair of short fin support shafts 44 protrude from themiddle projection 43 toward the side projections 42. That is, the shortfin support shafts 44 extend in the direction of the short sides X.

The middle projection 43 is inserted and arranged between the main longfins 31 from the upstream end toward the downstream end. The downstreamend of the middle projection 43 is located at a position close to thedownstream ends of the main long fins 31, that is, a position close tothe air outlet 20 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. Also, eachside projection 42 is inserted and arranged between one of the main longfins 31 and the adjacent sub-long fin 32 from the upstream end towardthe downstream end. Furthermore, both short fin support shafts 44 ofeach short fin 40 are pivotally engaged with the corresponding bearingholes 35 of the main long fins 31.

A manipulating knob 45 is mounted on one of the short fins 40 located atthe center in the direction of the long sides Y. Furthermore, a couplingshaft 46 is formed on each short fin 40 at a position upstream of theshort fin support shafts 44. In the present embodiment, a cutout 47 isformed at the lower part of the base 41 of each short fin 40, and thecoupling shaft 46 is formed to extend downward from the cutout 47. Thecoupling shafts 46 of the short fins 40 are coupled to each other by along coupling rod 48, which extends in the direction of the long sidesY. The coupling rod 48 transmits the tilt motion of the short fin 40 onwhich the manipulating knob 45 is mounted to the other short fins 40.

As for the group of short fins and the short fins 40, the state in whichthe short fins 40 are arranged parallel to the first walls 21 (see FIG.3) is referred to as a “short fin neutral state”, and the state in whichthe short fins 40 are tilted with respect to the first walls 21 (notshown) is referred to as a “short fin tilt state”.

Operation of the air conditioner register according to the presentembodiment structured as described above will now be described.

In the air conditioner register, most of the air-conditioning air Aflowing through the air duct 9 of the retainer 10 passes through thebarrel 30. At this time, the direction of flow of the air-conditioningair A is determined by the main long fins 31, the sub-long fins 32, andthe short fins 40.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the air conditioner register, in which the barrel 30is arranged in the barrel neutral state, and the short fins 40 arearranged in the short fin neutral state. At this time, both sub-longfins 32 are located in the retainer 10, but are located outward of theair outlet 20. The bulging portions 23 are located downstream of thesub-long fins 32. Therefore, when an occupant looks at the airconditioner register from downstream, the sub-long fins 32 are hiddenupstream of the bulging portions 23 and are not visible.

The short fins 40 are brought into the short fin neutral state byarranging the short fin 40 on which the manipulating knob 45 is mountedto be parallel to the first walls 21. When the short fin 40 on which themanipulating knob 45 is mounted is arranged parallel to the first walls21, the other short fins 40 coupled to each other via the coupling rod48 are also arranged parallel to the first walls 21. Theair-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent shortfins 40 flows parallel to the first walls 21 by flowing along the shortfins 40. Also, the air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between theshort fins 40 on both ends in the direction of the long sides Y and theadjacent side walls 33 flows parallel to the first walls 21 by flowingalong the short fins 40 and the side walls 33. In this manner, theair-conditioning air A is discharged parallel to the first walls 21 fromthe air outlet 20 at the downstream end of the retainer 10.

When the barrel 30 is in the barrel neutral state, the main long fins 31and the sub-long fins 32 are arranged parallel to the second walls 22.The air-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent mainlong fins 31 flows parallel to the second walls 22 by flowing along themain long fins 31. Also, the air-conditioning air A that has flowed inbetween the main long fins 31 and the adjacent sub-long fins 32 flowsparallel to the second walls 22 by flowing between the main long fins 31and the sub-long fins 32. In this manner, the air-conditioning air A isdischarged from the air outlet 20 parallel to the second walls 22. Sincethe gap between each sub-long fin 32 and the associated second wall 22is small, the amount of the air-conditioning air A that is dischargedfrom the air outlet 20 through the gap is very small.

When the short fin 40 on which the manipulating knob 45 is mounted istilted about the short fin support shafts 44, the tilt motion istransmitted to the other short fins 40 via the coupling shafts 46 andthe coupling rod 48. Accordingly, the short fins 40 are tilted in thesame direction in synchronization with each other while maintaining thestate in which the short fins 40 are parallel to each other. In thismanner, all the short fins 40 are tilted with respect to the first walls21. The flow direction of the air-conditioning air A that has flowed inbetween the adjacent short fins 40 is changed to the tilt direction ofthe short fins 40 by flowing along the short fins 40. Theair-conditioning air A is discharged from the air outlet 20 in thedirection in which the short fins 40 are tilted.

Also, when the barrel 30 is tilted about the barrel support shafts 34with respect to the second walls 22 within the movable range, the mainlong fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32 are tilted with respect to thesecond walls 22. The case in which the barrel 30 is not tilted to themaximum tilt position will now be described. In this case, the main longfin 31 that leads in the tilt motion approaches the bulging portion 23in the vicinity of the main long fin 31, and the main long fin 31 thattrails in the tilt motion separates from the bulging portion 23 in thevicinity of the main long fin 31. The flow direction of theair-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the adjacent main longfins 31 is changed to the tilt direction of the main long fins 31 byflowing along the main long fins 31. Also, the flow direction of theair-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fins 31and the adjacent sub-long fins 32 is changed to the tilt direction ofthe main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32 by flowing along the mainlong fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32. At this time, since the barrel 30is not tilted to the maximum tilt position, the downstream end of themain long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion of the barrel 30 isseparate from the bulging portion 23 in the vicinity of the main longfin 31. However, the gap between the downstream end of the main long fin31 and the bulging portion 23 is smaller than the gap when the barrel 30is in the barrel neutral state. Then, the air-conditioning air A isdischarged from the air outlet 20 along the tilt direction of the mainlong fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32. At this time also, since the gapbetween the sub-long fin 32 and the associated second wall 22 is small,the amount of air-conditioning air A that is discharged from the airoutlet 20 through the gap is very small.

Also, the downstream ends of the sub-long fins 32 are located upstreamof the downstream ends of the main long fins 31. Therefore, when thebarrel 30 is arranged in the barrel tilt state, the sub-long fin 32 thatleads in the tilt motion does not contact the second wall 22. Also, thesub-long fin 32 that trails in the tilt motion is not easily exposeddownstream of the air outlet 20 of the retainer 10.

Furthermore, when the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt positionat one end of the movable range (lower end in FIG. 4), theair-conditioning air A that has flowed in between the main long fin 31leads in the tilt motion (lower part in FIG. 4) and the second wall 22acts to flow along the main long fin 31 and the second wall 22. If thebulging portions 23 are not formed on the second walls 22 as shown inFIG. 5, a gap G is formed between the downstream end of the main longfin 31 that leads in the tilt motion (lower part in FIG. 5) and thesecond wall 22. In this case, the air-conditioning air A that has flowedin between the main long fin 31 and the second wall 22 blows through thegap G. The air-conditioning air A that has blown through the gap Gaffects the air-conditioning air A that has passed through the adjacentmain long fins 31 and discharged from the air outlet 20, and reduces thedirectivity of the air-conditioning air A. In FIG. 5, like or the samereference numerals are given to those components that are like or thesame as the corresponding components of FIG. 4. Also, in FIG. 5, theretainer 10 is shown in a state where the main body 11 and the bezel 16are integrated to facilitate illustration.

In the present embodiment, in which the bulging portions 23 are formedon the second walls 22, the tilt motion of the barrel 30 causes thedownstream end of the main long fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion(lower part in FIG. 4) to approach the bulging portion 23, and the gapbetween the downstream end of the main long fin 31 and the bulgingportion 23 is reduced as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the air-conditioning airA that has flowed in between the main long fin 31 that leads in the tiltmotion and the second wall 22 is inhibited from blowing through the gapbetween the main long fin 31 and the second wall 22. Accordingly, theair-conditioning air A that is discharged from the air outlet 20 passingthrough the adjacent main long fins 31 is inhibited from being affected.Even if being affected, the influence will be small that it can beignored.

When the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt position of the otherend of the movable range (upper end), the same result as described aboveis obtained. The explanation is therefore omitted.

In general, when the short fins 40 are arranged further upstream fromthe air outlet 20 in the flow direction of the air duct 9, thepossibility is increased that, after the flow direction of theair-conditioning air A is changed by the short fins 40, theair-conditioning air A strikes at least either the first wall 21 or theside wall 33 of the barrel 30 before blowing out from the air outlet 20.Such a tendency is increased as the short fins 40 are arranged furtherupstream away from the air outlet 20. In particular, the above-mentionedphenomenon tends to occur in a case where the short fins 40 are arrangedupstream of the barrel 30 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. Inthis case, the flow direction of the air-conditioning air A that hasstruck at least either the first wall 21 or the side wall 33 of thebarrel 30 is changed to the direction along the first wall 21 or theside wall 33 of the barrel 30, and the air-conditioning air A isdischarged from the air outlet 20 in this state.

In the present embodiment, one third or more of the length L1 of theshort fins 40 is arranged in the barrel 30 as described above. That is,the downstream ends of the short fins 40 are located at positions closeto the downstream ends of the main long fins 31, that is, at theposition close to the air outlet 20. Therefore, the air-conditioning airA the flow direction of which is changed by the short fins 40 does notstrike the first wall 21 or the barrel 30 (the side wall 33), but iseasily discharged from the air outlet 20 along the tilt direction of theshort fins 40.

The present embodiment has the following advantages.

(1) The barrel 30 of the air conditioner register of the presentembodiment is pivotally supported at a position close to the air outlet20 in the retainer 10 in the flow direction of the air duct 9. In theair conditioner register, when the barrel 30 is arranged in the barrelneutral state, in which the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32are arranged parallel to the second walls 22, the main long fins 31 arearranged closest to the long sides Y among the long fins located in theair outlet 20 (FIG. 2). The second walls 22 include the bulging portions23, which bulge inward of the air outlet 20. When the barrel 30 istilted to the maximum tilt position of the movable range, one of thebulging portions 23 is located close to the downstream end of the mainlong fin 31 that leads in the tilt motion (FIG. 4).

Therefore, a desired directivity of the air-conditioning air A, which isdischarged from the air outlet 20, is ensured by the two main long fins31.

Furthermore, when the barrel 30 is tilted to the maximum tilt positionof the movable range, the air-conditioning air A is inhibited fromblowing out from the air outlet 20 passing between the main long fin 31that leads in the tilt direction and the associated second wall 22.Thus, the directivity of the air-conditioning air A is improved.

Also, in the air conditioner register of the present embodiment, sincean additional member is not added, the directivity of theair-conditioning air A is improved without increasing the number ofcomponents.

(2) The barrel 30 includes the sub-long fins 32, which are located inthe retainer 10 and at a position outward of the air outlet 20 when thebarrel 30 is arranged in the barrel neutral state (FIGS. 2 and 4).

Therefore, in the air conditioner register of the present embodiment,the directivity of the air-conditioning air A is further improved ascompared to the air conditioner register in which the barrel 30 does notinclude the sub-long fins 32.

(3) In the present embodiment, the sub-long fins 32 are arranged atpositions close to the second walls 22, and the downstream ends of thesub-long fins 32 are located upstream of the downstream ends of the mainlong fins 31 (FIGS. 2 and 4).

Therefore, the air-conditioning air A is inhibited from blowing out fromthe air outlet 20 passing between the sub-long fins 32 and the secondwalls 22.

Also, when the barrel 30 moves to the barrel tilt state, the sub-longfin 32 that leads in the tilt motion is inhibited from contacting andinterfering with the second wall 22. Furthermore, the sub-long fin 32that trails in the tilt motion is inhibited from being exposeddownstream from the air outlet 20 of the retainer 10, and the aestheticappearance is prevented from being spoiled.

(4) The short fins 40 are provided in the retainer 10. At least part ofeach short fin 40 is arranged in the barrel 30. The short fin supportshafts 44 of the short fins 40 are supported by the barrel 30, and theshort fins 40 are coupled to each other by the coupling rod 48 (FIGS. 2and 3).

Therefore, the dimension of the air conditioner register in the flowdirection of the air duct 9 is reduced for downsizing.

Also, the air-conditioning air A the flow direction of which is changedby the short fins 40 is discharged from the air outlet 20 along the tiltdirection of the short fins 40 without striking the first wall 21 or theside wall 33 of the barrel 30.

(5) The short fins 40 are formed to be longer than the main long fins 31in the flow direction of the air duct 9. In a state where the short fins40 are arranged parallel to the first walls 21, one third or more of thelength L1 of the short fins 40 in the flow direction of the air duct 9is arranged in the barrel 30 (FIG. 3).

Therefore, the above-mentioned advantage (4) that the dimension of theair conditioner register in the flow direction of the air duct 9 isreduced for downsizing is more efficiently obtained.

(6) The downstream ends of the short fins 40 are arranged at positionsclose to the downstream ends of the main long fins 31 (FIG. 3).

Therefore, the above-mentioned advantage (4) that the air-conditioningair A the flow direction of which is changed by the short fins 40 isdischarged from the air outlet 20 without striking the first wall 21 orthe side wall 33 of the barrel 30 is more efficiently obtained.

The present invention may be modified as follows.

<Barrel 30>

The barrel 30 may include one or more other long fins arranged betweenthe pair of main long fins 31.

In this case, three or more long fins are located in the air outlet 20,and two of the long fins closest to the long sides Y are referred to asthe main long fins 31.

The barrel 30 may not include the sub-long fins 32.

<Short Fins 40>

The short fins 40 may be formed such that the length of the short fins40 is equivalent to or shorter than that of the main long fins 31 in theflow direction of the air duct 9.

The length of part of the short fins 40 arranged in the barrel 30 may bechanged as long as one third or more of the length L1 of the short fins40 in the flow direction of the air duct 9 overlaps the main long fins31.

The short fins 40 may be supported by a short fin support shaft formedof an additional member from the short fins 40 to be tiltable withrespect to the main long fins 31.

The short fins 40 may be pivotally supported by the sub-long fins 32instead of the main long fins 31. Also, the short fins 40 may bepivotally supported by the main long fins 31 and the sub-long fins 32.

The short fins 40 may be pivotally supported by a short fin supportshaft located at one position or by short fin support shafts located atthree or more positions in the flow direction of the short sides X.

The short fins 40 may overlap the entire length of the main long fins 31in the flow direction of the air duct 9, or may overlap only part of thelength of the main long fins 31.

<Applied Positions>

The present invention may be applied to an air conditioner register thatis located at a position different from the instrument panel in thepassenger compartment.

The air conditioner register of the present invention is not limited toapplications within the vehicle, but may be widely applied to cases inwhich the direction of air discharged from the air conditioner into aroom is adjusted.

<Others>

The present invention may be applied to an air conditioner register inwhich the long sides of the air outlet 20 are arranged to extend in thevertical direction. In this case, in the retainer 10, the pair of wallsfacing the vertical direction form the first walls 21, and the pair ofwalls facing the vehicle widthwise direction form the second walls 22.The long fins 31, 32 are arranged in the vehicle widthwise direction,and the short fins 40 are arranged in the vertical direction.

Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limitedto the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope andequivalence of the appended claims.

1. An air conditioner register for adjusting the direction ofair-conditioning air, comprising: a tubular retainer including an airduct for air-conditioning air defined therein by a pair of first wallsfacing each other and a pair of second walls facing each other, whereinthe retainer includes a rectangular air outlet at a downstream end ofthe air duct, and the air outlet includes a pair of short sides facingeach other and a pair of long sides facing each other, and wherein eachof the first walls includes one of the short sides of the air outlet,and each of the second walls includes one of the long sides of the airoutlet; and a barrel including two or more long fins extending in adirection of the long sides in the retainer and arranged along the shortsides separate from and parallel to each other, wherein the barrelincludes a pair of barrel support shafts extending in the direction ofthe long sides on both sides of the barrel, and the barrel is pivotallysupported by the barrel support shafts at part of the first walls closeto the air outlet, wherein when the barrel is arranged in a barrelneutral state, in which the long fins are arranged parallel to thesecond walls, the long fins located closest to the long sides, among thelong fins located in the air outlet, form a pair of main long fins, andeach of the second walls includes a bulging portion, which bulges inwardof the air outlet, and when the barrel is tilted to a maximum tiltposition in a range of the tilt motion, one of the bulging portions islocated close to the downstream end of a one of the main long fins thatleads in the tilt motion.
 2. The air conditioner register according toclaim 1, wherein the long fins of the barrel further include a pair ofsub-long fins in addition to the main long fins, and when the barrel isarranged in the barrel neutral state, the sub-long fins are arranged atpositions outward of the air outlet in the retainer.
 3. The airconditioner register according to claim 2, wherein the sub-long fins arearranged at positions close to the second walls, and the downstream endsof the sub-long fins are located upstream of the downstream ends of themain long fins.
 4. The air conditioner register according to claim 1,further comprising a plurality of short fins in the retainer, whereinthe short fins extend in the direction of the short sides and arrangedalong the long sides in a state separate from and parallel to eachother, wherein each of the short fins includes at least one short finsupport shaft, which extends in the direction of the short sides, andwherein each of the short fins is pivotally supported by the associatedshort fin support shaft, wherein at least parts of the short fins arearranged in the barrel, and the short fin support shafts of the shortfins are supported by the barrel, and the short fins are further coupledto each other by a coupling rod.
 5. The air conditioner registeraccording to claim 4, wherein the short fins are formed to be longerthan the main long fins in the flow direction of the air duct in a statein which the short fins are arranged parallel to the first walls, andone third or more of the length of the short fins in the flow directionof the air duct is arranged in the barrel.
 6. The air conditionerregister according to claim 4, wherein the downstream ends of the shortfins are arranged at positions close to the downstream ends of the mainlong fins.